NameCensus.

UK surname

Elmore

A surname of Old English origin referring to someone living at or near an elm tree or grove.

In the 1881 census there were 425 people recorded with the Elmore surname, ranking it #7,634 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 940, ranked #6,094, up from #7,634 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wistow, Barking and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kettering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elmore is 1,003 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 121.2%.

1881 census count

425

Ranked #7,634

Modern count

940

2016, ranked #6,094

Peak year

2010

1,003 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elmore had 425 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,634 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 940 in 2016, ranked #6,094.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 762 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Elmore surname distribution map

The map shows where the Elmore surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Elmore surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Elmore over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 280 #8,043
1861 historical 309 #8,207
1881 historical 425 #7,634
1891 historical 510 #7,307
1901 historical 664 #6,534
1911 historical 762 #5,675
1997 modern 901 #5,956
1998 modern 966 #5,836
1999 modern 989 #5,763
2000 modern 1,002 #5,677
2001 modern 983 #5,653
2002 modern 995 #5,714
2003 modern 972 #5,725
2004 modern 989 #5,648
2005 modern 967 #5,685
2006 modern 974 #5,666
2007 modern 979 #5,707
2008 modern 953 #5,865
2009 modern 990 #5,809
2010 modern 1,003 #5,869
2011 modern 972 #5,944
2012 modern 912 #6,191
2013 modern 962 #6,013
2014 modern 973 #5,997
2015 modern 955 #6,046
2016 modern 940 #6,094

Geography

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Where Elmores are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wistow, Barking, London parishes, Wednesbury and Kettering. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kettering. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Wistow Huntingdonshire
2 Barking Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Wednesbury Staffordshire
5 Kettering Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kettering 010 Kettering
2 Kettering 011 Kettering
3 Kettering 004 Kettering
4 Kettering 005 Kettering
5 Kettering 007 Kettering

Forenames

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First names often paired with Elmore

These lists show first names that appear often with the Elmore surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Elmore

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Elmore, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Elmore surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Elmore household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Elmore is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Elmore is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Elmore falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Elmore is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Elmore, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Elmore

The surname Elmore is of English origin, derived from the Old English words 'el' meaning eel and 'mor' meaning marsh or swamp. It likely originated as a place name referring to a location where eels were found in abundance, such as a marshy area or wetland.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Elmore dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Elmerugg' in Suffolk. This suggests that the name was already established in England by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, including Elmer, Elmor, and Elmoure. These variations reflect the evolving spelling practices of the time and the influence of regional dialects.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Elmore name was William de Elmore, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1191. This indicates that the name had spread beyond its original area and was being used as a hereditary surname by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in several historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it was recorded as 'Eylmor' in Oxfordshire. This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during this period.

The Elmore surname has been associated with various place names throughout England, including Elmore in Gloucestershire, Elmor in Worcestershire, and Elmer in Sussex. These place names likely derived from the same Old English roots as the surname itself.

Notable individuals with the surname Elmore include:

1. John Elmore (1787-1857), an American politician who served as the 13th Governor of Alabama. 2. Ralph Elmore (1916-2001), an American actor and stuntman known for his work in Western films. 3. Gertrude Elmore (1906-1998), an American author and playwright who wrote several works on African American history and culture. 4. William Elmore (1798-1869), an English painter and engraver known for his landscapes and portraiture. 5. Franklin Elmore (1799-1850), an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Representative from South Carolina.

While the Elmore surname has been present in various regions of England since medieval times, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement, carrying with it the rich history and cultural significance of its English origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Elmore families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elmore surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 66 Elmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.59x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 66 1.59x
Essex 41 5.01x
Bedfordshire 36 16.77x
Northamptonshire 36 9.23x
Lincolnshire 35 5.28x
Staffordshire 28 2.00x
Huntingdonshire 26 31.58x
Yorkshire 18 0.44x
Oxfordshire 14 5.47x
Lancashire 12 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 10 3.99x
Cambridgeshire 10 3.81x
Durham 10 0.81x
Kent 10 0.71x
Surrey 10 0.50x
Sussex 10 1.43x
Berkshire 8 2.57x
Norfolk 8 1.26x
Devon 6 0.70x
Caernarfonshire 5 2.98x
Derbyshire 5 0.77x
Lanarkshire 5 0.37x
Warwickshire 5 0.48x
Glamorgan 4 0.55x
Monmouthshire 3 1.00x
Fife 1 0.41x
Hampshire 1 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.18x
Suffolk 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barking in Essex leads with 24 Elmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 100.25x.

Place Total Index
Barking 24 100.25x
Kettering 24 152.19x
Wistow 24 4285.71x
Flitton 13 1340.21x
St Pancras London 12 3.60x
Wednesbury 12 34.32x
West Bromwich 10 12.48x
Aspley Guise 9 439.02x
Bromley London 9 9.87x
Heckington 9 357.14x
Peterborough 9 31.88x
Whitchurch 9 873.79x
Brandon Byshottles 8 51.78x
Reading St Giles 8 26.20x
Stoke Newington London 8 24.78x
Leyton Low 7 42.09x
St Marylebone London 7 3.16x
Tadmarton 7 1372.55x
Southery 6 357.14x
Westoning 6 645.16x
Alvaston 5 270.27x
Ampthill 5 156.25x
Austerfield 5 1000.00x
Bangor 5 30.92x
Chatham 5 12.85x
Dalton In Rotherham 5 862.07x
East Ham 5 32.92x
Kensington London 5 2.17x
Steeple Aston 5 515.46x
Whittlesey St Mary St 5 54.53x
Willingdon 5 282.49x
Ardwick 4 9.02x
Barkstone 4 563.38x
Bermondsey 4 3.24x
Cambusnethan 4 13.43x
Hornsey 4 7.63x
Hove 4 13.04x
New Sleaford 4 94.12x
Quarrington 4 769.23x
Romford 4 30.91x
Sculcoates 4 6.14x
St Clement Danes London 4 46.62x
Sutton Coldfield 4 36.40x
Tipton 4 9.33x
Barton Upon Irwell 3 8.10x
Billingborough 3 177.51x
Chelsea London 3 2.40x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 15.18x
Neath 3 20.42x
Newmarket All Sts 3 154.64x
Panteg 3 63.56x
St George Hanover Square 3 4.11x
Battersea 2 1.31x
Boston 2 9.95x
Cottingham 2 148.15x
Darlaston 2 10.34x
Fulham London 2 3.33x
Great Grimsby 2 4.75x
Linthorpe 2 8.16x
Louth 2 13.17x
Lynton 2 116.28x
Maidstone 2 4.75x
Manchester 2 0.90x
Mirfield 2 8.87x
Pulloxhill 2 266.67x
St Martin In Fields 2 8.06x
Toxteth Park 2 1.20x
Westoe 2 2.86x
Bluntisham 1 64.94x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 2.56x
Fen Drayton 1 204.08x
Finchley 1 6.29x
Harrow On The Hill 1 12.08x
Kirton 1 37.59x
Lambeth 1 0.28x
Penge 1 3.78x
Redenhall 1 40.32x
Shoreditch London 1 0.56x
Thorpe Next Norwich 1 14.79x
Walmer 1 16.26x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Elmore surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 16
Annie 15
Sarah 15
Ann 9
Emily 9
Eliza 8
Hannah 7
Harriet 7
Ada 5
Alice 5
Kate 5
Edith 4
Ellen 4
Margaret 4
Eleanor 3
Emma 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Anne 2
Betsy 2
Caroline 2
Esther 2
Grace 2
Hanna 2
Harriett 2
Isabella 2
Jane 2
Mahala 2
Matilda 2
Phoebe 2
Rebecca 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Elizabith 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Ethel 1
Fannie 1
Francis 1
Georgina 1
Henrietta 1
Juliah 1
Lilian 1
Lizzie 1
Lois 1
Zilpah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Elmore surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 29
John 23
George 22
James 14
Thomas 14
Charles 10
Arthur 8
Edward 7
Henry 7
Frank 6
Frederick 6
Joseph 6
Samuel 5
Albert 3
Harry 3
Luke 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Enos 2
Francis 2
Richard 2
Abraham 1
Alex 1
Alford 1
Algernon 1
Amos 1
Auberon 1
Benjamine 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Edwin 1
Flowers 1
Fred 1
Henery 1
Jacob 1
Jesse 1
Jim 1
Leonard 1
Michael 1
Michail 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Richd. 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
W.G. 1
Young 1

FAQ

Elmore surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elmore surname in 1881?

In 1881, 425 people were recorded with the Elmore surname. That placed it at #7,634 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elmore surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 940 in 2016. That gives Elmore a modern rank of #6,094.

What does the Elmore surname mean?

A surname of Old English origin referring to someone living at or near an elm tree or grove.

What does the Elmore map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Elmore bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.